August 01, 2025
Birkin Bag: The iconic Hermès Birkin just shattered records. It wasn’t just a handbag—it was a headline moment in auction history.
The sale began last month with an opening bid of €1 million. That instantly made it the most expensive handbag ever.
As the bidding heated up and hit €6 million, the quiet Paris auction room lit up with applause. Then came the winning moment.
The final bid landed at €7 million. After fees, the buyer—bidding over the phone—paid around $10.1 million.
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Cheers broke out as the gavel fell. It was a sale no one in that room will forget. Shinsuke Sakimoto was sitting over 6,000 miles away when it hit him.
He had just done something bold—maybe even a little crazy.
On the other end of the phone, the auction had ended. The deal was done. “I’ve never spent that much on a single item in my life,” he said. Sakimoto is the CEO of Valuence Holdings, a luxury resale company in Japan.
This was his first big interview since the historic purchase. “It was exciting,” he admitted. “But honestly, it made my stomach turn.” Sakimoto’s business deals partly in pre-owned luxury bags.
His company sells second-hand handbags that, while not as pricey as the original Birkin, still go for thousands of dollars.
But even with his background, he’s not someone most would expect to own a piece of fashion history.
The Birkin he bought is a rare prototype.
It was originally created for British style icon Jane Birkin. Over time, it became one of the most sought-after luxury items in the world. Interestingly, Sakimoto didn’t start in fashion.
In his early 20s, he played professional soccer in Japan’s top league. He appeared in a few matches before being released from his club.
At just 22, he retired from the sport. In 2004, he opened his first resale shop in Osaka.
Before that, he had worked at his father’s second-hand store. Seven years later, he founded his own company, Sou. That would later grow into what is now Valuence Holdings.
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Sakimoto’s competitive spirit hasn’t faded. He credits that drive to his background in sports.
From his Tokyo office, he looked back on the intense 10-minute auction. To him, the other bidders weren’t just participants.
He called them “aite” — opponents. Sometimes even “teki” — enemies. As the bids climbed higher, nearing his maximum, he stayed sharp.
He gave clear instructions to the person bidding on his behalf. “Respond within three to five seconds,” he told her. There was no time to hesitate. “I had to stay aggressive,” he said.
They were close to their limit. But backing off wasn’t an option. In those last moments, it became a mind game.
“We were planning how to wear them down mentally,” Sakimoto explained. “Push hard enough so they’d back out.”
A Luxury That’s Built to Last
The night before the auction, Sakimoto dreamed twice about winning the bid. He pictured himself holding the prize. “We stepped into this with strong belief,” he shared.“It almost felt like the fashion gods picked us to own the original Birkin.” Still, despite the dreamlike feeling, this was a calculated investment.
Big-ticket auction buys have become a popular PR move for companies. Take, for example, crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun.
Last year, he paid $6.2 million for Maurizio Cattelan’s famous banana artwork — then ate it. In this case, the historic Birkin isn’t owned by Sakimoto personally.
It belongs to his company, Valuence. And the company’s value depends on how well the investment pays off.
Sakimoto believes the buzz from last month’s auction will bring huge benefits.
He expects it to create “several billion yen” in publicity.
That’s an eight-figure amount in dollars. And it could add significant “advertising value” over the next ten years.
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“It was obvious the winning bid would set a new record,” Sakimoto said. He didn’t sugarcoat his reason for bidding. “It was certain the news would go global,” he added. Everyone involved saw it the same way.
They knew it was a smart investment. But Sakimoto isn’t treating this Birkin like any regular asset. He seems deeply committed to preserving this rare piece of fashion history.
According to Valuence, the bag will not be resold. That sets it apart from the rest of their luxury inventory.
Instead, it’s now part of a long-term plan.
And it won’t come cheap. The company expects additional costs — including shipping and import duties — to add up.
Those fees alone could total around 300 million yen. That’s nearly $2 million on top of the original $10.1 million price tag.
The company hasn’t shared exact plans yet. But it hopes to make the iconic Birkin bag available for public viewing.
Thousands of people came to see it when Sotheby’s displayed it in New York. That was just before last month’s record-breaking sale.
Earlier, the bag had also been showcased at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It even appeared at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Sakimoto says the goal isn’t to lock the bag away as a rich person’s trophy.
Instead, he wants to change how ownership is viewed. “The idea is to create a new kind of ownership,” he said.
“One that allows companies and society to share it together.” He added, “We want to preserve it for the future — and let the world experience it.”
The Legacy of a Fashion Muse
The story behind the prototype goes beyond luxury and status. It’s also about how the iconic design came to life.Jane Birkin came up with the idea during an unexpected moment. She was on a flight to London in 1984.
Sitting next to her was Jean-Louis Dumas, the chairman of Hermès. During the flight, her handbag tipped over.
Her belongings from a Hermès Kelly bag were scattered across the floor. Frustrated, Birkin mentioned how the bag was too small and rigid.
That moment sparked something. She suggested a larger, softer bag—one that could actually hold her things.
And from that conversation, a fashion icon was born. In a 2020 interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Jane Birkin shared how it all began.
“I said, ‘Why don’t you make a bag that’s four times the size of the Kelly? Something you could leave open?’” she recalled. Dumas, the Hermès chairman, was intrigued. He asked her to draw what she had in mind.
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Birkin sketched a rough idea on an airplane vomit bag. That simple sketch became the start of something iconic.
Hermès brought her vision to life.
They crafted the very first version and gifted it to her. It wasn’t flashy. Just a clean, black leather bag.
Her initials, “J.B.,” were engraved on it.
There was a personal detail too. A small pair of silver nail clippers hung from the strap.
Birkin liked to keep her nails tidy, according to Sotheby’s. She used the bag nearly every day. From 1985 until 1994, it was always with her.
Then she sold it to raise money for AIDS research. Jane Birkin passed away in 2023, but her legacy lives on.
Sakimoto openly shared that he wasn’t always drawn to Jane Birkin. He didn’t see himself as a true admirer at first.
But things changed as he learned more about her. “The more I explored her life and values, the more interesting she became to me,” he said.
He felt a strong connection growing. Sakimoto saw something familiar in her story. “She stood for something meaningful,” he explained.
“People like her—ambassadors of ideas and culture—remind me of what we’re trying to do with our brand.” To him, her legacy felt personal.
It matched the mission his company stands for. At the heart of the company is one simple idea—circular living.
Valuence believes in giving products a second life. Through resale and reuse, they’re cutting down on waste in a big way. In just one year, their work helped prevent 5.3 million tons of carbon emissions.
They also saved over 70 billion gallons of water. All by lowering the need for brand-new fashion and luxury goods.
So, what better way to represent that mission than a vintage Birkin? A 41-year-old bag that’s still going strong. Used daily, yet still in great condition. A perfect example of timeless quality—and sustainability.
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